Politics
Cruz blasts Biden admin’s ‘failure of leadership’ as cartel threats against border agents rise
By Jake Beardslee · October 27, 2023
In brief…
- Senator Ted Cruz wrote letter to DHS concerned about threats to Border Patrol from cartels
- Cruz cites Mayorkas' own testimony about threats to agents
- Cruz refers to reported threats to torture agents in El Paso
- Cruz blames threats on cartels emboldened by lax border policies
Senator Ted Cruz wrote a letter to Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas expressing concern over threats against Border Patrol agents that Cruz says are coming from emboldened Mexican cartels. Cruz cited Mayorkas’ own testimony about agents facing “threats made against them and their families.” Cruz also referred to reports of text messages in El Paso, Texas that included threats to torture agents and post it online.
Cruz attributed the threats to cartels being “emboldened by [Mayorkas’] failure of leadership at the border.” He pointed to increased cartel profits, more fentanyl coming across the border, the release of migrants into the U.S. interior, and record numbers of “gotaways.” Cruz said “the violence against law enforcement and public officials that has long plagued Mexico now appears to be gaining a foothold in the United States.”
In his letter, Cruz asked Mayorkas for data on arrests related to threats against agents, resources available for threatened agents, and how DHS plans to collaborate with other agencies and adjust its border security approach. Cruz told Mayorkas, “If you cannot protect the Agents tasked with safeguarding the American people, you should resign.”
Cruz’s letter comes as Border Patrol Chief Jason Owens said agents routinely encounter migrants with “serious criminal histories.” It also follows the Biden administration’s request for an additional $14 billion from Congress for border security.